Coin changer and coin control device



Nov. 11, 1941.. c. F. HARRIS 2,262,322

COIN (MANGER AND COIN CONTROL DEVICE AFiled Jan.- 17, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l i 14.11111111111111.'a'.lravpnnr., '11.1111111111'vivrai...lr'nr'acaalllal'x wir.'11.111111111119111( @Q -Kaw,

Nov. 11, 1941. c. F. HARRIS 2,252,322

` COIN CHANGER AND COIN`CONTROL DEYICE Filed Jan; 17, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 EHARL'ES EHARR/S Nov. 1l, 1941. I c. F. HARRIS y 2,262,322

com CHANGER AND com CONTROL DFvIcE Filed Jan. 1'?, 1959 4 sheets-shears /A/ l l l/ lll/l -l/ l DHA RLES EHARR/s Nov. 11, 1941. c. F. Hmm 2,262,322"

COIN AGI-{ANGER AND COIN CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 17l 1959 4 SheetsfSheet 4 2 EHARLES E' HARRIS chanical elements thereof.

Patented Nov. 1 1, 1941 i UNITED lsTATiazs PATENT oFFlcE l com CHANGER A'Nnom coN'rnoL` DEVIC Charles F.vHarris, Fayetteville, N. C., assignor of i one-half to A. E. Dixon, R. M. Olive, and C. E.

JE I

Application January 17, 1939, Serial No. 251,425

6 claims-.1 (crise-'10) This invention relates' in general to coin changing and coin control apparatus and deals, more `particularly with a device of this character which may be conveniently .and eiiiciently attached to` variousvending. machines nw on the market as a control de vice and/or for use as a coin changing apparatus returning the correct change for coins of greater value than the cost of the article purchased.

A primary purpose of the invention is the provisionof a change making and coin control device which may be readily attached to a vending machine to permit the use o! such vending machine bymeans of a coin of greater value than the cost ofthe article purchased in serving not 'only to actuate the vendingv machine to deliver the article purchased but also to deliver the proper change depending on the value ofthe coin the coin changer, which amount will be a nickel l in the event `a dime'is inserted or four nickels in the event ,a quarter is deposited.k However, it

is to be understood that the coin changer is not limited to use'with coins of suchl denominations but 4is equally adaptable for use withjcoins of other values by varying the size and proportions oi the various operating'parts o! the device or otherwise changing the relation of certain me- Another object of the invention 1s for the provision of a coin changer'of the type described comprising manually operated means for actuatingthe coin changing mechanism thereof.

A still further object ofthe invention is to'pro- 4vide a coin changing` device of the character stated which is ci simple compact construction, efficient in operation and comprises relatively few, simp1e,yinexpensive parte:l making possible low cost.

Further objects and advantages ofthe inventionand other new and useful features in the construction, arrangement and generalcombina--V mounted thereon and connected in lation thereto;

Fig. v24 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing in plan the several operating mechanismsof the coin changer and coin control device;

Fig. 3 represents a section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of'the arrows; .l

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

` showing in elevation the structure of one of the operating means of the device;

Fig. 5 is a similar section of Fig. 2 taken along line 5-'5, looking in the direction of the arrows,

` showing inelevaticn the'structure of another of the operating means;

Fig. 6 is a section showing in side elevation the coin stack mechanism and magazine therefor illustrated in Fig. 3;

looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig.y 8 Vis a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuits; 1

Fig. 9 toll inclusive illustrate a furtherfembodiment of the invention comprising manually operated actuating means, Fig. 9 representing a section through a coin changing device of this character showing the structure of one of the operating.. means which may be employed;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating the structural parts of another of the ,operating means in this form of the'invention; and,l

rig. 11 1s a section taken on une of I Fig.' 9, looking in the direction 'of the arrows.

' trol device of the invention may be mounted or'ito a vending machine v normallyoperated for ex- C l' ample, by a nickel inserted 'into slot'i, and-which sets Vinto motion an electrically operated motorapparatus (not-shown) to deliver the article purchased to a receptacle 2 where it may be con? veniently removed bythe purchaser. The coin changer is preferably a relatively small unitary the production of such devices at comparatively tion of parts thereof Iwill b e readily apparent to those. skilled in the art'as a description 'thereof proceedswith `reference to the laccompanying drawings in whichlike reference characters desl ignate like parts throughout the same, and in which:

control and coin changing device of the invention Fig. 1 shows in general the arrangement by I which the improved coin changer and coin condevice comprising vany selected form of casing authorized persons.

Referring to Figi 2 which is a section taken 1 Y on line 2-2 of' Fig. 1, the various operating parts of the coin` changer device are shown in plan comprising a pair ofcoin chutes I0, Il receiving,

for example, dimes and quarters deposited in their4 respective slots I2, I3, at the top o! the casing as seen in Fig. V3. At a suitable lpoint advjacent the lower end of each chute, spaced conoperative .re- A tact elements I4, I5, Fig. 4, are provided one oi' which extends normally into the chute in position to arrest a coin inserted therein to cause'a momentary closing of said contact elements, the coin subsequently falling into the collection receptacle 1. These contact elements I4, I5 in either chute close the circuit in which they are course may be a battery but in the illustration of the present invention is the power line P supplying A. C. or D. C. current to the vending machine in a hook-up such as illustrated in Fig. 8 for example. Since said wires leading from the contact elements in the receptive chutes I0, II are connected i'n parallel, the insertion of a coin in either chute to close the circuit as aforesaid will energize only the solenoid associated therewith and will not affect the other, the solenoids thus being adapted to function in independent relation in the operation of the machine as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The solenoids 25, 25 are mounted in the casing by supports 21, 28, in operative position for actuating their respective coin change operatingl members, substantially as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it being understood that the operating mechanism of Fig. 4 associated with solenoid 25 is actuated upon insertion of a dime in chute I while that of Fig. 5 is actuated by solenoid 25 `ment purposes, the same being held locked in any selected adjusted position by lock nut 36. Since said armature 35 is threadely mounted in .cross-head 33 the same may be adjusted as neca essary with respect to solenoid 25 to provide the required throw of said lever or connecting rod 30 about its pivot 3I, said armature otherwise being maintained in normal operative position with respect to the solenoid by a coil spring 31 Fig, 4, suitably attached to cross-head 33 at one end and at'its opposite end to said rod 39, as by a pin adjacent pintle 3|, said spring thus permitting suitable relative movement oi the cross-head and connecting rod when actuated but maintaining said armature in proper position to be attracted by the solenoid when energized in a succeeding operation.

At its lower end the connecting rod lever 30 is pivotally connected to a crank or push rod member 40 by a pintle 4I, Figs. 2 and4. Said crank is mounted in the assembly preferably by means of an elongated slot 42 intermediate its ends receiving a pin 43 held by a4 support 44 shown flxedly secured to the base of the casing'. Thus said crank is adapted both for axial sliding movement and a certain degree of pivotal movement about. said pin 43 when .the several parts of the when energized by a quarter deposited in chute mechanisml are actuated substantially inv the manner indicated by the dotted line showing, Fig. 4. Carried by said crankinember 40 is a pivotally mounted pawl 45 having a pair of lug elements one of which is designed to engage a stop 45 on the crank while the other is'engaged by a. spring 41 to hold the pawl in its normal position but capable of counterclockwise movement in positively engaging the teeth of a cooperating ratchet wheel 50 to actuate the same on forward movement' of the crank 49I under iniiuence of a suitable coil spring 49 when the solenoid 25 is deenergized, said spring being secured at one end to said crank and at its opposite end to the adjacent wall of the casing. Thus as best seen in Fig. 4, on rearward movement of crank 40 taking place through connecting rod and armature attracted by solenoid 25, said pawl 45 is adapted to'pass overal single tooth of ratchet wheel 50 and engage said tooth such that on forward return movement of said crank under influence of spring 49, a corresponding rotary movement is transmitted to the ratchet wheel 50 and the horizontal main shaft 5I to which it is iixedly secured in'any suitable manner.

Said main shaft 5I is rotatably mounted in the casing by bearing supports 52, 53, and 54, Figs. 2

and 3, and has secured thereto another ratchet wheel 55, Figs. 2 and 5, which is operated by means substantially similar to that described with reference to Fig. 4 but winch is actuated only when solenoid 26 is energized which, it will be recalled, takes place upon insertion of a quarter in chute II. Accordingly as best seen in Fig. 5, said operating means for ratchet wheel 55 comprises conecting rod 30 pivotally mounted by pintle 3'I' to a support 32' flxedly secured in the casing. Cross-head 33 pivotally secured to said connecting rod at 34', comprises a solenoid plunger or armature 35 adjustably retained by lock nut 35', said cross-head being held in normal operative position by coil spring 31' substantially in the manner aforesaid. The lower end of said connecting rod 30' is .connected to crank or push rod 40 by pintle 4I', said crank having a slot 42' receiving pin 43' held by support 44'. Said crank carries a pawl provided with a pair of lug elements one of which abuts against a stop 58 while the other is engaged by spring 51 to hold the pawl in its normal position but capable of counterclockwise movement in passing over the teeth of said ratchet wheel 55 associated therewith on backward movement of the said example is uniform and it is therefore necessary that the operating means for ratchet wheel 55 be such as to cause the same to transmit a rotary motion to said main shaft which is a multiple oi' that imparted when ratchet wheel 50 is actu- Iated. I'hus the movement transmitted by ratchet wheel 55 must be four times that of ratchet wheel 50 since as stated, when the same is actuated four nickels are to be returned whereas only one nickel is returned on actuation of ratchet v wheel 50. In order that the setting for either actuating mechanism be in proper position for to be engaged by itsassociated vpawl for the next However said r ratchet succeeding., operation. I v wheel f55 is `provided of substantially one-half the radius of ratchet wheel 56 and its pawl actuv said arms. Thus, in the event aplurality of coins are to be ejected at one time as when four sucating mechanism designed to actuate the same I twice the distance4 thereof by passing over two trated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The movement 'teeth to engage the second of ,such teeth as illusof the pawl 56 by thevcrankl' through such distance is `taken care of by adjusting the threaded shank of armature 35 to suitably actuate` connecting rod which in turn actuates said crank 4U' to substantially 4the position illustrated by dotted lines whereinthe pawl 56 engagesthe second of two teeth passed over and rotates the shaft 5I a proportionate distance on forward return movement of the crank.` Thus by reducing the size of ratchet wheel 55 toy `one-half that of ratchet wheel 50 and having the pawl 56 actuate times the distance the same is moved upon actu- Vation `of ratchet .wheel 50. AIn other words, in

the present. example, ratchet wheel 55 when actuated moves the shaft 5l through a full quarter turn whereas ratchet wheel 56 moving only one tooth and being twice the diameter of ratchet wheel -55 is merely one-fourth as effective thereby actuating saidshaft only 'one-sixteenth of a variousother desired ratios may be provided for by suitable change in the size, proportion and number of teeth of the ratchet` wheels and operating mechanism therefor.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 one end of said shaft 5I carries a bevel gear` 60 meshed with apinion 6|,

` saidgearsin the presentvexample having a four to one ratio, whereupon a quarter turn of shaft 5I causes a full revolution of said pinion 6I Operative movement of shaft 5I'is necessarily only in the direction indicated by the arrows Figs. 2, 3.

and in order to prevent accidental reverse move- Said pinionl is carried at one end of a vertical shaft journalled in a bearing arm 65 which may attachment to a vending machine V, Fig. 1, prebe an element 'of support 52 as shown in Fig. 3.

The opposite end of said vertical shaft 64 carries flxedly connected thereto `a coin ejecting wheel comprising four arms 65, Fig. 2, uniformly spaced in a commony horizontal plane. Thus upon rotation of the pinion said arms of the ejecting `wheel successively engage the lowermost nickels at the bottom of the com stack s1 and push the same forward to; drop-into slot-66 and changel tray 69.

The -coinstack comprises a cylindricalrecepv taclefl iixedl'y-,r'nounted to the base of the casing by asupport 1I `but having its loweredge spaced from said base as shown in Fig. 3, such that the lowermost coin at the bottom of the stack adjacent arm 66 of the ejecting wheel. As a coin is removed, succeeding coinsA of course fall into 'position by gravity and the arms 66 of the ejecting wheel engage such coins in the order' they come to the bottom of the stack in the path of cessive nickels is the correct change to be returned to the purchaser,- a complete revolution of the ejecting wheel takes place with each of the four arms 66 forcing a coin from ther bottom of the stack in successive relation. In such operation, in order to provide sufficient time to permit each coin to fall by gravity to the bottom of the stack before contact therewith of the next arm 66, said arms are designed between their points of engagement with the coins with a spacing greater than Y This differential spacing the size of such coins. therefore may be designed as necessary to provide for the tirnerequired during movement of the ejecting wheel to permit a coin to fall in position to thev bottom of the stack following the ejection of a preceding coin and before the nexteffective ejecting arm swings into operative ejecting position. l

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the structure already described and shown .in

general in Fig. 2 provides the desired coin control apparatus operating upon the insertion of a dime or quarter in the machine. In the present example, the cost of the article purchased is a nickel and accordingly this mechanism serves also to return the proper change in either case, which is a nickel when a dime is deposited in chute I6 or four nickels when a quarter is inserted in chute Il. quarter chute Il, the `coin changer includes a nickel chute 6I, Fig. 3,. for receiving such coins of the exact. value of the article purchased and controlling the operation of the'vending machine to deliver the article purchased without returning change, of course. Said nickel chute 8| is pro-v with nickels for subsequent change returning purposes, while dimes and quarters deposited in the machine are collected in the separate receptacle 1,

Figs. 2 and 4, as aforesaid. The coin control and coin changer device isthus designed to receive either a nickel, dime or quarter, as the case may be. As previously-set forth, in the present example, the kcoin changer is shown employed as an viously in use and which includes an electrically operated motor apparatus (not shown) to deliver the article purchased to the receptacle 2 thereof. Therefore, inasmuch as the coin changer itself is adapted to receive nickels also and control the operation of the vending machine in a. similar manner without returning change, as'presently to be described, the previously used coin slot I of said vending machine is no longer necessary andmay be sealed or otherwise dispensed with as desired.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, a preferred arrangement of nickel receiving and coin control means operating the vending machine lsshown embodying a magazine 15, supported by suitable standard 16, receiving a large quantity of coins dropped therein and 4adapted to'automatically issue single coins through port 11 in a manner to replenish' t the coin stack 61 without danger of clogging.

Extending within said magazine from the nickel A coin slot llprojecting outside said casing, is a vcoin chute 8| providedwith spaced contact eley may freely removed by contact therewith of Ithe In addition to dime chute I0 and ments 82, 8l adapted to momentarily arrest acoin passing through said chute before falling into said magazine Said contact elements are connected through conductors 84, 65, to terminal wires 20, 2|, Fig. 2, which as previously set forth are connected to the power line P supplying curre'nt to the' motor M of the vending machine as illustrated in Fig. 8. Thus upon insertion of a nickel in said coin slot 60,' the vending machine is operated in its usual manner without in any way aiecting the coin changing apparatus which is operated only when a dime or quarter is deposited in the proper coin slot I2 or I3 as the case may be.

. In operation, in the use of a coin changer and control device embodying all three coin chutes, comprising nickel chute BI, dime chute I0, and quarter chute I| arranged in order, Fig. 3, the device is mounted onto the vending machine V as ilustrated in Fig. 1 for example. with the terminal wires 20, 2| connected to the power line P supplying current to the vending machine delivery apparatus substantially as represented in Fi'g.^8. As above set forth, the insertion of a nickel in the coin chute 8| serves to complete a circuit only through wires 64, 85 and terminal wires 20, 2| to the vending machine delivery apparatus to produce the article purchased, the nickel subsequently falling into magazine 15 where it replenishes the coin stack 61 in a most practical manner as will be appreciated from Figs.

. 3 and 6.

As respects the operation of the vending machine delivery apparatus, it will be understood `that insertion of the proper coin in any chute completes a circuit causing the delivery appaatus to operate automatically either when such apparatus embodies a quick release switch operated mechanism or amotor actuated means. In the latter case, the momentary closing of the circuit bythe coin inserted may not be suicient, in'some instances, to cause the motor to run the required length of time for the delivery operation whereupon a suitable relayv device (not shown) is employed for this purpose.

When a dime is inserted into its proper chute I0, the control device becomes effective not only to operate the vending machine to deliver the articlepurchased but also to return a nickel to the purchaser in the change tray 69. Thus in operating the vending machine, a circuit is closed by contacts, I5, Fig. 4, through wires I6, I1, and terminal wires 20, 2l. At the same time solenoid 25, Figs. 2 and 4, inthe circuit of said wires is energized to serve as a magnet attracty ing the armature 35 into contact therewith, it being understood that this contact is only momentary and ends with the breaking of the circuit when contacts I4, i5 open upon passing of the dime' into coin box 1. The axial movement of the amature 35, Fig. 4, actuates connecting rod through cross-head 33, saidy connecting rod distance one tooth on the ratchet wheel is actuated, and this movement in turn imparts a rotary motion to the arms 66 of the ejecting wheel through bevel gears 60, 6I and vertical shaft 64, Figs. 2 and 3. Said gears in the present example. have a four to one ratio inasmuch as four arms are provided on the ejecting wheel and it is desired that one arm be moved through the proper distance to eject a single coin in response to .the single tooth distance the ratchet wheel is moved. In this relation, it will be quite readily appreciated that simply by changing the ratio of gears 60, 6I, and/or the number of teeth passed over by the pawl to move the ratchet wheel the necessary distance, the ejecting wheel may be caused to rotate suicient to -enable several of the arms 66 to eject a plurality of coins from the coin stack, in an arrangement for returning, say three pennies change from a penny coin stack when the article purchased is seven cents and a dime is inserted in the machine.

In a preferred form of the. invention which is described'in detail in the instant disclosure only by Wav of example with the understanding that the invention in no manner or form is limited thereby, ratchet wheel 50 is provided with I6 teeth and the gears 60 and 6| in a four to one ratio with 64 and I6 teeth, respectively, and accordingly, a movement of said ratchet wheel 50 'through a distance of one tooth as aforesaid, causes the pinion 56| to move a distance of four teeth thereon, Athereby eiecting a substantial quarter turn of theejecting wheel to actuate a single arm 66 in ejecting .a single coin, which in this Yinstance is a nickel change since the cost of the article purchased is ilve cents and a dime was deposited in the coin changer.

When a ouarter is dropped into its proper chute l I, four nickels change are to be returned and accordingly a circuit through wires I8, I9 and terminal wires 20, 2|, is completed to operate the vending machine in the usual manner aforesaid, the solenoid 26 in such circuit being energized simultaneously to attract the armature 35' Fig. 5

in setting the operating mechanism for ratchet wheel 55. Said operating mechanism is substantially similar to that described employed for actuating ratchet wheel 50 and comprises conin .turn actuating the crank/'40 in a rearward movement against the tension of spring 49 to substantially the position shown by dotted, lines Fig. 4 wherein pawl 45 is shown passed over a single tooth to positively engage at the rear thereof. The pawl is thus set to actuate the ratchetl wheel" and rotate the same as long as it is in contact therewithg this actuation taking place on the .return or forward movement of crank 40 under influence of spring I9 incident to release of armature 35 from the solenoid 25 'on breaking of the circuit as aforesaid. The main shaft 5I is thereby turned an' amount proportionate to the 75 necting rod 30' actuated by said armature through a cross-head 3|', said connecting rod in turn drawing the crank or push rod 4D' in a rearward movement against the tension of spring ment of the crank 40 for this purpose is readily I provided for by adjusting armature 35' to exert the necessary throw on connecting rod 30'. Thus on the return movement of crank 40' under iniiuence of spring 49 when the circuit is broken. ratchet wheel 55 causes shaft 5I to rotate a full quarter turn `whereas ratchet wheel 5I! twice the size thereof and actuated only the distance oi one tooth as aforesaid, is capable of moving said shaft only one-sixteenth of a revolution in ejecting only one nickel. Accordingly, ratchet wheel 55 on being actuated a full quarter, turn. moves bevel gear a like amount, and since such gear and pinion 6| have a four to one ratio, said pinion and the ejectingwheel connected thereto are rotated through a full revolution. During such full revolution of the ejecting wheel, the four arms 66 thereof eject four successive nickels into the 'tray 69 which is the correct amount of change necessary to be returned posited.

Figs. 9-11 inclusive showa modification of the coin changer structure which is similar in operfor the quarter de- At the inner end of said slide bar a dog I I2 is adjustably mounted in xed relation thereto as by a bracket secured'by a bolt fastening, said l dog being adapted to engage stop 94 on vthe ation to that described with reference to Figs.

and operation, the same being designed for use with dimes and quarters in the illustration given.

In the present embodiment, however, inner ends of cranks 40, Fig. 9, and 40', Fig. 10, are mounted for siidable movement on standards 90 and 9| and provided with adjustable pin stops 02, 93 limiting the forward movement thereof under influence of the springs!!! and 49 respectively. Additional stops 04, 95 are provided on said cranks in position to beactuated by the manually operated control means in setting either ratchet wheel operating mechanism in a manner presently to be described.

Suitably positioned above the ratchet wheel operating` mechanism of Fig. 9, is a shelf 06 extending from the front of the casing and sup-v porting a channel shaped guide bar |00 in which are slida-bly received a slide bar |0| and push bar |02 in superposed relation, the same being held in assembled position by inturned iianges provided, on-the guide bar |00 as shown in Fig. 11.

VSlide bar |02 has an aperture |03 the exact size of a'coin required in `operating the control means,

and when said slide bar is disposed innormat coinreceiving position the coin receiving aperture therein is in exact alignment with an aperture `|04 provided in the guide bar |00V of slightly smaller size than said aperture |03 to retain a proper size coin in said aperture |03 but permit a coin of smaller size to fall through said aper tur` |04.` thereby Preventing fraudulent opera` tion of the machine.V A stop |05 on slide bar |0| engaging the upturned end stop |06 on the guide o' bar, limits the outward movement of said slide bar and otherwise positions the same in prope coin receiving position.

Push bar |02 is provided with an opening presenting a shoulder |0`|y engaging a coin properly positioned in thevaperture |03 of the slide bar. Said push bar also includes a 'handle |00 and a shoulder |09limiting the inward movement thereof`as represented in dotted lines, and otherwise Vserving as an abutment-meansyengaging stop |05 on thev slide bar whereby the same are interenga'ged in being simultaneously returned to the proper coinV receiving position shown. Return of these elements automaticallyv is preferably provided for by means of aspring ||0 connected from the front of the casing to a -pin secured to the push bar |02 andurging the same to its crank 40 of the ratchet wheel Aactuating mechanism and the adjustable mounting permitting the same to be adapted for transmitting any desired movementto the crank 40 whichin turn rotates the ratchet wheel 50 and shaft 5I a proportionate distance through pawl 45 carried thereby as described withreference to Fig. 4.

Unless a coin is placed in coinl receiving aperture I 03 no inward operating movement of the slide bar |0I can take place and if the push bar |02 is forced inwardly regardless, as by one tampering with the machine, said push bar merely slides inoperatively relative tothe slide bar into the interior of the casing. l

In the normal operation of 'such control means upon insertion of a propercoin in the coin aperture |03 as shown, the shoulderv |01 presented by the opening in the push bar |02 engages the coin and moves the slide bar together with the push bar to the interior of the machine to a position where the coin overlies'coin passage ||3v in theguidev bar and drops intorthe chute of a coin collection receptacle ||4 at'the front of the casing.

During such inward movement of the slide bar under f orce of said push bar,.the dog I|2 carried by said slide bar engages stop 94 on the crank 40 to move the same to substantially the dotted line position illustrated whereupon pawl 45 l passes over a single tooth of ratchet wheel 50,

and upon backward movement .of said crank under influence of spring 40 imparts a rotary movement to the ratchet wheel and a corre- `sponding movementto shaft 5I, said shaft thereupon operating the coin ejecting means substantially in the manner described with reference to such structure appearing in Figs. 2 and 4. The ratchet wheel operating mechanism of Fig. 10 is substantially similar to that of Fig. 5 and the slide bar, push bar and related parts of the manually operated coin control means are identical to those just described with respectto Fig. 9 with the exception that the dog |20 there-` of is so adjusted for engaging stop 96 as to push crank 40 over a distance suiiicient for pawl 56 to pass over two teeth on ratchet wheel 55.

' becomes necessary by reason of the fact, it will normal retracted position wherefore said shoulder |09 thereon abuts stop |05 on the slide -bar automatically returning both said members to proper coin receiving position as limited by up turned stop4 |06 of the guide bar.

be recalled, that ratchet wheel 55 is only half the -size of ratchet wheel 50 and the cooperating y pawl 56 is required to pass over andV engage the second of two teeth as shown in dotted lines, in order to impart to the shaft 5| a movement four timesl that of said wheel 50, to function inthe manner described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 in the example given, wherein actuation of the coin ejecting mechanism -through movement of the shaft by ratchet vwheel 55, Fig. 5, deliversl four nickels change upon insertion of a quarter, whereas movement of the shaft by ratchet wheel 50, Fig. 4, vcauses the ejecting means to return only one nickel change when a dime is inserted in the machine. i A

'Though the invention is shown and` described as'respects the making of change for coins of two diierent denominations, namely dimes and quarters, not including pennies, it will of course be understood'that the same may be adapted to include pennies without departing from the scope of the invention. vlit will also be appreciated that the principles l of the invention are capable of This indefinite extension and design for returning change for any of the larger denominations of coins, or selected number of denominations, by employing the required number of coin chutes, a plurality ofcoin ejecting mechanisms and the necessary operating means therefor.

While the invention has 'been described in detail with specific examples, such examplesare intended as illustrations only, since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modications in the construction, arrangement and general combination of parts may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, with all changes falling within the scope, meaning and range of equivalency of the claims intended to' be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of 'the character described; a

c shaft, a coin ejecting mechanism and means connecting said coin ejecting mechanism to y the shaft to bev actuated in proportion to rotation of said shaft, independent ratchet members of different size associated with said shaft. operating means for each of said ratchet members adapted aeeaaaa size associated with said shaft, a reciprocating member associated with each ratchet member adapted to move said ratchet members through diierent distances to impart distinct turning movements to said shaft, only one separate and distinct movement of said shaft being imparted atany time, a spring connected to said reciprocating member, said reciprocating member being adapted lfor a setting movement tensioning said spring, said reciprocating member incident to said setting 'movement moving the ratchet member associated therewith a predetermined to impart'distinct turning movements to said shaft, only one separate and distinct movement of said shaft being imparted at any time.

2. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a coin ejecting mechanism and means connecting said coin ejecting mechanism to the shaft to be actuated in proportion to rotation of said shaft, independent ratchet members of different size associated with said shaft, operating means 4for each of said ratchet members comprising a reciprocating member associated therewith adapted to move said ratchet members through different distances to impart distinct turning lmovements to said shaft, only one separate and distinct movement of-said shaft being imparted at any time, a springl connected to said reciprocating member, said reciprocating member being adapted for a setting movement tensioning said spring, said reciprocating member incident to said setting movement moving the ratchet member associated therewith a predetermined distance under inuence of said spring.

3. In a device of the character described, a shaft, av coin ejecting mechanism and means connecting said coin ejecting mechanism'to the shaft to be actuated in proportion to rotation of said shaft, independent ratchet members of different size associated with said shaft, operating means for each of said ratchet members comprising a reciprocating member associated therewith adapted to move said ratchet members through different distances to impart distinct turning movements to said shaft, only one separate and distinct movement ofsaid shaft being imparted at any time, a spring connected to said reciprocating member and a pawl carried thereby, said reciprocating member being adapted for a setting movement tensioning said spring and disposing connecting said `coin ejeeting mechanism to saidA distance under influence of said spring, and con-- trol means associated with said reciprocating member for actuating the same in providing such lsetting movement, said control means comprising a solenoid and an armature connected to said reciprocating member.

' 5. In a device of the-.character described, a shaft, a coin ejecting mechanism and means connecting said coin ejecting mechanism to the shaft to be actuated in proportion to rotation of said shaft, independent ratchet members of different size associated with said shaft, a reciprocating member associated with each ratchet member adapted to move said ratchet members through different distances to impart distinct turning movements to said shaft, only one separate and distinct movement' of said shaft being imparted at any time, a spring connected to said reciproeating member and a pawl carried thereby, said reciprocating member being adapted for a setting movement tensioning said spring and disy posing the pawl carried thereby in positive engagement with the ratchet member associated therewith, said reciprocating member incident to said setting movement moving the ratchet membe'r associated therewith under inuence of said spring, and control means associated with said reciprocating member for actuating the same in vproviding such setting movement, said control means comprising a solenoid and lan armature connected to said reciprocating member, and means for energizing said solenoid through the medium of a deposited coin.

6. An electrically operated coin changer and control device for use with an electrically operated vending machine, said device comprising a plurality of coin receiving chutes embodying coin actuated control means adapted to actuate the delivery apparatus of the vending machine upon insertion of a coin therein, saidA control means also actuatingchange returningA means upon v deposit therein of coins of greater value than the cost of the article delivered by the vending machine, said change returning means comprising a shaft, a coin vejecting mechanism and means shaft to be actuated in proportion to rotation of the pawl carried thereby in positive engagement with the ratchet member associated therewith, said reciprocating member incident to said setting movement moving the ratchet member assosaid shaft, independent ratchet members of dif ferent size associated with said shaft, and operating .means for each of said ratchet members adapted to impart distinct turning movements to said shaft to cause'said coin ejecting mechanism to deliver the change required in accordance with the denomination of the deposited coin.

CHARLES F. HARRIS. 

